German soldiers in France during the Battle of Villers-Bocage of World War 2. A pictorial map showing cities along French coastline. A German soldier looking through binoculars. Allied ships at sea. German soldiers prepare artillery and fire. Smoke rising from explosions. German soldiers beside artillery. Smoke rising from Allied vessels at sea. Explosions on land and smoke rising. Two German soldiers talking. A wrecked landing craft at a beach. Debris of wreckage spread on the beach. A bomb wrecked U.S. LST (Landing Ship, Tank) on the beach and armored vehicles aboard the ship. Vehicles moving along a road. recked British Cromwell tanks and M3 Halftracks along the side of a road. A German soldier beside a damaged tank. Wide shot of a Stuart light tank. A damaged signboard which reads 'Villers Bocage'. Damaged buildings on the street of Villers-Bocage and a wrecked Tiger tank beside the buildings. Debris strewn on the ground and a damaged tank among the debris. A damaged tank with its front part into a building. A British helmet in the debris on a Cromwell tank. (Note: During this battle, On June 13th, 1944, German tank commander, Michael Wittmann, in a single Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger tank reportedly destroyed up to 14 tanks and 15 personnel carriers along with 2 anti-tank guns. Many were of the British 22nd Armored Brigade of the 7th Armored Division, AKA the 'Desert Rats'.)
Opening scene shows a Boeing B-24 Liberator bomber arriving at an airfield in the Caribbean during World War 2 . U.S. First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt steps from the aircraft, stopping here on one of her many trips. She strolls among U.S. servicemen and others. She is escorted by a General and reviews American Troops on parade at an army base. Scene shifts abruptly to the Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney in New South Wales Sydney Australia, where the Australian Destroyer, Bataan, is being Christened on 15 January 1944 by Jean MacArthur, the wife of General Douglas MacArthur. Dockyard workers drive wedges from beneath the destroyer's hull, to free her for launching. Mrs. MacArthur announces the name, Bataan, and swings a bottle of champaign to christen her. The ship proceeds down the ways. View from below of sailors on deck as she launches.
The invasion of Peleliu, Palau Islands during World War 2. A Marine Major General is seen on the bridge of the Flagship USS Mount McKinley, off the coast of Peleliu during the amphibious assault by U.S. forces on September 15, 1944. He is observing the action through a set of binoculars.The island under bombardment. Task force ships firing their Naval guns include the heavy cruiser USS Louisville (CA 28) seen at TC: 01:29, 01:46, & 02:13. Other officers on the deck also watch the action through binoculars. Smoke columns rise from the island under bombardment.
French General Marie-Pierre Kœnig and his staff (plus a civilian official) review U.S. Army troops in Paris, before they depart, after the liberation of Paris,in 1944, during World War 2. General Koenig has been appointed by General Charles de Gaulle to consolidate French control and administration in Paris. In the opening scene, He and the group are seen walking past the U.S. troops as they stand at attention. Later Koenig and the others stand at attention as the American troops march past, on parade. Views of the U.S. troops marching out of Paris, past landmarks and along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and through the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (Arch of Triumph). Complete change of scene, shows an American armored personnel carrier moving through a French town and an M3 half track firing at a building. Then U.S. infantry spread out as they attack the area. Next American jeeps are seen traversing a steep bridge. Winding roads in rugged country are seen. A GI using binoculars. American artillerymen firing M116 75mm Pack Howitzers, including some under camouflage nets. Soldiers working to repair and strengthen a timber bridge. A truck carrying Free french soldiers who climb down and receive small arms from another French soldier in a jeep. Camera pans over the boots worn by the French soldiers. Closeups of two. Change of scene shows Free French troops in snow at an Alpine location, where they set up military equipment. French soldiers scanning mountain peaks. A soldier on skis. The soldiers responding to a whistle signal from an officer. They take up positions and fire weapons.
Animated map shows U.S. forces extending control in the Pacific to the Mariana Islands islands in the Pacific during World War 2. It shows chain of airfields linking island of Truk to homeland, Japan. Map focuses on island of Truk, in Micronesia, showing concentration of Japanese aircraft, ships, and troops there. Paths of U.S. air and naval attacks on Truk are shown. Map shows Japanese fleet withdrawing and U.S. forces by-passing Truk to concentrate on the Mariana islands. U.S. naval task force is seen off the island of Saipan on June 11, 1944. Two U.S. battleships are followed by two escort aircraft carriers/ Barrels of battleship triple guns firing at Saipan. Landing Craft Tank: Rocket LCT(R) firing salvos of rockets. Glimpse from aircraft, overhead, of landing craft leaving white wakes during amphibious assault. Closeups of U.S. troops in landing craft. View from shore of American troops storming ashore through surf, from landing craft, under heavy enemy fire. Closeup of soldier hunkered down in sand. Soldier dropping down from side of beached landing vehicle tracked (LVT). A dead U.S. soldier floating in the water. Troops firing from their LVTs. Shells striking on sandy shore. Marines running with stretcher over their shoulders Fletcher class destroyer firing her guns to port. Brooklyn class light cruiser firing guns to port. View from ships flying Japanese flags, of Japanese warships headed to engage U.S. fleet. Japanese aircraft carriers and Aichi Kokuki KK dive bomber (Val) taking off from a carrier. Aerial closeup of Japanese Val aircraft in flight, with pilot clearly visible before he banks his plane to the left. Formations of Japanese Val aircraft in flight. Formation of American Grumman TBF Avenger aircraft engaging the Japanese. Gun camera film showing Japanese aircraft being shot down. A Japanese aircraft crashing into the sea. Sailors of U.S. ship firing batteries of Bofors 40mm anti aircraft guns. and 20mm anti aircraft guns. Black flak clouds in the sky. A Japanese plane crashing into the sea. Aerial view of formation of Japanese Val aircraft in flight. Closeup of a Japanese Kawasaki Ki-61 (Hien) aircraft maneuvering to attack. More views of Japanese Val aircraft in formation. American dive bombers dropping bombs on, Japanese held, Orote airfield. View from the air of bombs striking and smoke clouds. Fires burning on the airfield. An American navy F6F hellcat plane diving. Gun camera film showing Japanese aircraft being downed. A plane director on deck of U.S. aircraft carrier. Two Grumman TBF aircraft taking off from a carrier. View toward tail of one taking off. U.S. aircraft in formation overhead, and then peeling off in trail formation to attack a target. Japanese ships being strafed. U.S. infantry continuing heavy fighting on Saipan.
American strike at Japanese forces in the Pacific Ocean during the Battle of Cape Engano of World War II (during Battle of Leyte Gulf) in October 1944. Animation depicts U.S. Task Force 38 in three groups and contact with enemy forces. Animation depicts Task Force 38.3 and Task Force 38.4 concentrating on Task Force 38.2. Task Force 38.1 diverted for battle and Japan's attack on Task Force 38.3. Japanese aircraft in flight. Naval guns fired from U.S. battleships. Japanese aircraft which are shot down plunge in water. USS Princeton (CVL-23 ) catches fire. U.S. soldiers spray water on the ship. USS Birmingham (CL-62) and USS Irwin (DD-794) attempt to extinguish the fire. The ship explodes. Animation depicts Task Force 38.3, Task Force 38.2 and a search airplane locating enemy carrier force. U.S. Navy Fleet Admiral William Halsey, Jr. who is the Commander of U.S. Third Fleet studies a map with others and makes an estimate of Japanese forces. Animation depicts the strength of Japanese forces. Animation depicts the strength of the Japanese Navy in the central region. Animation depicts U.S. plan of attack on Japanese forces.
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